Jazz Lose All-Time Great In Gobert

SALT LAKE CITY – In what may have been the biggest trade in Utah Jazz history, Rudy Gobert is headed to the Minnesota Timberwolves in return for a massive haul.

The Jazz will receive Malik Beasley, Patrick Beverley, Jarred Vanderbilt, Leandro Balmaro, and rookie Walker Kessler, and more importantly, four future first-round draft picks, three of which are unprotected (2023, 2025, 2027), the fourth which is only top-five protected in 2029, and the ability to swap picks with the Timberwolves in 2026.

It’s a truly enormous package for the Jazz, and a testament to how highly thought of Gobert is among NBA circles, and rightfully so.

The @utahjazz have traded Rudy Gobert to the @Timberwolves for a massive haul.

Here is a look at the five players, and the four draft picks the Jazz are getting back in the blockbuster move. #TakeNote https://t.co/44DDMY9uYd

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) July 1, 2022

Over the past six seasons, Gobert has established himself as one of the top big men in the NBA, one of the most decorated players in Jazz history, and has built what should be a Hall of Fame resume.

Since 2016, Gobert has been named to six consecutive All-Defensive first teams, he’s earned four All-NBA honors, three All-Star nods, and has won the Defensive Player of the Year award three times.

During the stretch, he averaged 14.8 points, 13.1 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game. He led the NBA in field goal percentage three of the six seasons, led the NBA in blocks per game in 2016-17, and led the league in rebounds per game last year.

Perhaps most impressive has been Gobert’s unique durability, having played in 90 percent of the Jazz’s games in four of the six seasons, and never playing fewer than 56 games during the stretch.

Honestly Rudy Gobert was a pleasure to cover, though.

He was always honest, thoughtful, and respectful.

Not to mention he's probably the third best player in @utahjazz history.

Definitely hope he finds success and happiness with Minnesota.

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) July 1, 2022

After nine seasons with the Jazz, Gobert ranks in the top 10 among franchise players in multiple significant categories including games played (10th, 611), minutes played (7th, 18,301), field goals (10th, 2,796), free throws (5th, 2,000), offensive rebounds (2nd, 2023), defensive rebounds (2nd, 5,096), total rebounds (2nd, 7,119), blocked shots (3rd, 1,357), points (10th, 7,592), field goal percentage (1st, .653), rebounds per game (2nd, 11.7), blocks per game (2nd, 2.2), PER (3rd, 22.1), true shooting percentages (1st, .671), effective field goal percentage (1st, .653), offensive rebounding percentages (2nd, 12.6), defensive rebounding percentage (1st, 30.4), total rebounding percentages (1st, 21.7), block percentage (5th, 6.1), offensive rating (2nd, 127.4), offensive win shares (4th, 48.6), defensive win shares (4th, 37.9), total win shares (3rd, 86.6), win shares per 48 minutes (1st, .227), Box Plus/Minus (5th, 4.0), defensive Box Plus/Minus (5th, 2.2), and Value Over Replacement Player (5th, 27.8).

In a league where player movement is rabid, and loyalty is rarely rewarded, Gobert’s nine-year tenure with the Jazz was unique, and it’s safe to say he never mailed in a game.

The Jazz turned a huge page in their franchise history on Friday by sending Gobert to the Timberwolves, but his impact in Utah will not soon be forgotten.

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